Implements a number of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by amending the:

Crimes Act 1914

and

Criminal Code Act 1995

to: introduce two new offences, and related defences, court rules and protections, for failure to protect a child at risk of a child sexual abuse offence and failure to report child sexual abuse; and introduce a new offence, and related defences and changes to the definition of 'child pornography material', of possessing a doll or other object that resembles a child or part of a child intended to be used by a person to simulate sexual intercourse;

Customs Act 1901

to prohibit the import and export of child-like sex dolls and similar objects;

Surveillance Devices Act 2004

to allow applications for the emergency authorisation for use of a surveillance device to be made in relation to the new offence of possession of child-like sex dolls or other objects;

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979

to provide that the new offence of possession of child-like sex dolls or other objects is a serious offence for the purposes of the Act;

Criminal Code Act 1995

to: introduce a new offence, and related presumptions and defences, for the possession or control of 'child abuse material' in the form of data held in a computer or on a data storage device; provide that the existing offence of persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia applies to the commission of two or more separate occasions of underlying child sex offences overseas over any period of time; amend the existing definition of 'forced marriage' to explicitly capture all marriages involving children under 16; remove the rebuttable presumption that a person under 16 is presumed to be incapable of understanding the nature and effect of a marriage ceremony; require the Attorney-General's consent to commence proceedings in relation to the offences of causing a person to enter a forced marriage and being a party to a forced marriage; clarify that forced marriage offences involving a child under 16 will automatically attract the aggravated maximum penalty of nine years' imprisonment; and narrow the existing defence to offences involving engaging in sexual intercourse or other sexual activity with a child or young person outside Australia, and procuring or 'grooming' a child for sexual activity outside Australia; and

Crimes Act 1914

,

Criminal Code Act 1995

,

Customs Act 1901

and

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979

to remove references to ‘child pornography material’ and reconstitute the current definitions of ‘child abuse material’ and ‘child pornography material’ into a single definition of ‘child abuse material’.

to: lower the minimum (non-compulsory) voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; allow 14 and 15 year olds to be added to the electoral roll in preparation for their eligibility to vote at 16 years of age; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.

to make it an offence to supply or offer commercial goods to a consumer that include Indigenous cultural expression unless supplied by, or in accordance with a transparent arrangement with, an Indigenous artist or relevant Indigenous community.

Subject to approval in accordance with section 128 of the Constitution, the bill proposes an alteration to the Constitution to provide that the Commonwealth, States and Territories must not limit freedom of expression, including freedom of the press and other media.

Subject to approval in accordance with section 128 of the Constitution, the bill proposes an alteration to the Constitution to provide that the Commonwealth, States and Territories must not limit freedom of expression, including freedom of the press and other media.

Subject to approval in accordance with section 128 of the Constitution, the bill proposes an alteration to the Constitution to: provide the Commonwealth with the power to make laws in relation to the use and management of water resources that extend beyond the limits of a state; and ensure that any Commonwealth law relating to water resources does not have an overall detrimental effect on the environment.

Subject to approval in accordance with section 128 of the Constitution, the bill proposes an alteration to the Constitution to: provide the Commonwealth with the power to make laws in relation to the use and management of water resources that extend beyond the limits of a state; and ensure that any Commonwealth law relating to water resources does not have an overall detrimental effect on the environment.

More on bills

Bills and committees

The House of Representatives Selection Committee and the Senate Selection of Bills Committee routinely consider whether bills should be referred to committees for inquiry and report. The House Committee reports its determinations to the chamber, while the Senate Committee makes recommendations which the Senate may then adopt. Bills may also be referred to committees by either chamber or by the relevant minister to House and joint committees.